San Francisco

Police Sexual Misconduct Scandal: Claims Filed Against SF, Richmond, Livermore and Alameda County

A former Contra Costa Sheriff's deputy on Friday pleaded not guilty to charges tied to the case

Attorneys for a woman at the center of a police sexual misconduct scandal on Friday said they have filed claims against the cities of San Francisco, Richmond, Livermore and Alameda County.

The claims follow another previously filed against Oakland.

The 19-year-old woman, Jasmine, said she worked as a prostitute and exchanged sex with officers for money or protection from arrest. She says she has had sex with 30 northern California officers, four of them before she turned 18.

In each case, Jasmine, who formerly self-identified as Celeste Guap, is asking for $3 million compensation for each officer involved.

A $30 million claim against the city of Richmond said five Richmond police officers trafficked Jasmine among Bay Area officer or failed to report the abuse. The claim said they "deepened her spiral down into the sex trade."

Meanwhile, former Contra Costa County Sheriff's Deputy Ricardo Perez on Friday pleaded not guilty to a felony charge of oral copulation with a minor and misdemeanor charges of lewd conduct.

Court documents said Perez had sex with the Jasmine some 10 times when she was 17 years old.

The judge allowed Perez to go home without being booked into jail or posting bail.

In addition to Perez, the Alameda County District Attorney's Office has filed felony charges against two Oakland police officers. A former Oakland police sergeant and a former Livermore police officer have also been charged with misdemeanors and two other Oakland police officers are also expected to face misdemeanor charges.

One of the five Oakland police officers charged in the case, Brian Bunton, last week pleaded not guilty.

Bunton, 40, is accused of warning Jasmine to stay away from an intersection known for prostitution because of an ongoing police operation.

In Richmond, City Manager Bill Lindsay recently announced disciplinary recommendations for nine police officers tied to Jasmine.

According to the discipline letters, one Richmond police officer will be fired, one demoted, two suspended, and five reprimanded for their actions.

Bay City News and the Associated Press contributed to this report.

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